Insulation panels for use in box cars



Jan. 4, 1966 T. L. BLICKLE INSULATION PANELS FOR USE IN BOX CARS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26, 1962 Illllllill l ll llll INVENTOR. 720ml. Elm/(Z2,

1966 T. L, BLICKLE 3,

INSULATION PANELS FOR USE IN BOX CARS Filed Nov. 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR g/ZOWLBQMZE,

the like.

United States Patent 3,226,899 r INSULATION PANELS FOR USE IN BOX CARS Thomas L. Blickle, La Grange, IlL, assignor to Landreth Industries, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 26, 1962,Ser. No. 239,904 4 Claims. (Cl. 52-506) This invention relates in general to insulation arrangements and more particularly to an improved insulation arrangement for a railway boxcar or the like.

It is common practice to insulate railway boxcars for use as either mechanically temperature controlled car or merely insulated cars. The insulation arrangements utilized have conventionally included insulating materials of well known characteristics, such as mineral wool or Relatively recently, however, foamed plastic materials have become popular as an insulating medium. Foamed plastics such as polyurethane or the like make excellent insulating mediums, as is now well known. They require relatively less space to provide substantially the same amount of insulation as mineral wool, for example, and are relatively easy to work with. The present invention is embodied in a foamed plastic insulation arrangement for a railway boxcar or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved foamed plastic insulation arrangement for a railway boxcar or the like.

It is another object to provide an improved foamed plastic insulation arrangement which is simple and relatively inexpensive to construct, t

It is yet another object to provide an improved foamed plastic insulation arrangement which assures uniform insulationthroughout a railway boxcar.

The above and other objects are realized in accord ance with the present invention by providing an improved insulation arrangement which more advantageously utilizes a foamed plastic material as an insulating medium for a railway car. The invention contemplates an arrangement comprised of prefabricated insulating panel units using a foamed plastic insulating medium such as polyurethane or the like. Thepanel units are secured according to the present invention to the inside walls of a raliway car of broadly conventional construction. Each panel unit is constructed and arranged in such a manner thata uniformly dense insulating layer of foamed plastic is established throughout its extent.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, taken with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: i

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of an insulating panel unit embodying features of the present invention installed in a' boxcar;

' FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the panel unit taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE l,with parts removed; i i i i FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the panel unit taken along line 3-'-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a further enlarged sectional view of the panel unit taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 1, with parts removed; i

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the panel unit taken along line 55 of FIGURE 1, with parts removed; and i e FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view, similar to FIGURE 5, of a modified panel unit embodying features of the present invention, with parts removed.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG- URE 1, a portion of an insulation arrangement 10 embodying features of the present invention is mounted in- 3,226,899 Patented Jan. 4, 1966 side of and against the side wall 11 of a conventional railway boxcar (not shown in its entirety). The insulation arrangement 10 actually includes a plurality of panel units 12 secured to the inside of the side walls 11, the end walls (not shown) and the ceiling (not shown) of a railway boxcar according to the present invention, but only one is illustrated. A description of one panel unit 12 sufiices to an understanding of the entire invention, however, and the claims are couched in terms of a wall whether they apply to side or end walls, ceiling, or even the floor.

As seen in FIGURES 1-3, the panel unit 12 of the insulation arrangement 10 embodying features of the present invention includes a base panel 18 firmly bonded to a twoinch (2") thick flat block 19 of foamed plastic. The block 19 of plastic is preferably polyurethane or the like which has been foamed in place on the panel 18 and held tightly thereto substantially through the medium of a plurality of furring strip assemblies 20 in a manner which will hereinafter be discussed in more detail.

The base panel 18 comprises a series of substantially identical panel sections 21-25. The panel sections 21-25 aer preferably three or five-ply, one half /2") inch plywood sections which are structurally joined together by the foamed plastic block 19 and the furring strip assemb lies 20 hereinbefore referred to. The panel unit 12 (together with other substantially identical units 12) is, in turn, secured to the conventional wall 11 of the railway boxcar (not shown) through the medium of a plurality of mounting stud assemblies 30 (see FIGURE 4) to define the insulation arrangement 10 embodying features of the present invention.

As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the furring strip assemblies 20 extend longitudinally of the base panel 18, and, correspondingly, transversely of the panel sections 21-25. Each furring strip assembly 20 preferably includes a strip 35 of wood which is separated from the base panel 18 and joined thereto by a plurality of appropriately placed spacer members 36 connected to both the strips 35 and the base panel by conventional wood screws 37 (see FIGURE 5). Here it will be seen that the spacer members 36 are placed in bracketing relationship with the seams 40 defined between the panel sections 21-25 making up the base panel 18. Four furring strip assemblies 20 hold the panel sections 21-25 tightly together prior to the application of foamed plastic, preferably polyurethane, to the base panel 18 to form the block 19 of foamed cellular plastic. These assemblies 20 also provide support for the base panel 18 subsequent to formation of block 19. The use of four assemblies 20 is exemplary, of course, and more or less might be utilized.

The block 19 of foamed cellular plastic is formed in place on the base panel 18 and accordingly surrounds the furring strip assemblies 20, binding itself to the strips 35 and the spacers 36 of the furring strip assemblies 20, as well as to corresponding surfaces 42 of the panel sections 21-25. To seal the panel sections 21-25 together in substantially fluid-tight relationship, prevent seepage of foaming plastic through the seams 40 during the foaming formation, and enhance the physical integrity of the panel unit 12 when it is handled, strips 43 of adhesived fiberglass cloth or the like are secured to the corresponding surfaces 42 of the individual panel Relatively small portions of the shallow mold are successively charged with the appropriate reactants necessary to the formation of foamed polyurethane in a well known manner, while a sheet (not shown) of paper or the like is placed tautly over these small portions of the mold, supported by the strips on their upper surfaces 48, and weighted down in any well known manner.

The sheet of paper defines a limit to which the polyurethane can foam upwardly in the shallow mold and consequently defines the surface of the block 19 of foamed polyurethane. The block 19 of foamed polyurethane is built up in portions in this manner to assure that a block of substantially constant density, devoid of gas pockets, is established.

Referring now for a moment to FIGURE 6, a modification in construction of the panel unit 12 defining features of the present invention is illustrated. The panel unit is substantially identical to the panel unit 12 with the exception that block spacers 51 glued to corresponding panel sections 2125 and furring strips 35 are utilized in lieu of the spacer members 36 and wood screws 37. In all other respects, the panel unit 50 is identical to the panel unit 12 hereinbefore discussed and, accordingly, like components thereof are identified by like reference numerals.

As has previously been pointed out, the panel units 12 (or correspondingly the unit 59) are secured tightly against the inside of a conventional boxcar wall 11 by stud assemblies 30, seen in FIGURE 4. The walls 11 conventionally comprise a plurality of vertically disposed wall sections 60 joined to and stiffened by vertical ly extending channel members 61 by welding or the like, as at 62. The channel members 61 are conventionally spaced at three-foot intervals longitudinally of the walls 11 although, as can readily be understood, this spacing might be varied.

A series of stud assemblies 30 are mounted in each vertically extending channel member 61 and secure the panel unit tightly against the wall 11. Each stud assembly 30 includes a stud 70 secured to the base 71 of the channel member 61 by welding or the like, and extending outwardly of the channel member 61 for a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the furring strips 35. Threaded ends 72 on the studs extend through corresponding apertures 73 formed in corresponding furring strips 35, into generally cylindrical bores 74 formed in the block 19 of foamed celular plastic and the base panel 18. These bores 74 are formed in a well known manner by a cylindrical coring tool (not shown) so that the core 75 is saved. The studs 70 may be of the type that can be inserted through the bores 74 and apertures 73 with the panel unit 12 in position against the wall 11, and automatically welded in place in this relationship. Such an arrangement obviates worries about making studs 70 and apertures 73 coincide. A conventional washer 80 and machine nut 81 are threaded onto the threaded end 72 of each of the studs 70 to draw the panel unit 12 tightly against the boxcar wall 11.

The core 75, hereinbefore referred to, is trimmed to a thickness which permits it to be inserted in the bore 74 with its outer surface 82 flush with the outer surface 83 of the base panel 18, as will be seen. The plugs 75 are preferably glued in their respective bores 74 when the panel unit 12 has been securely attached to the wall 11 of the railway boxcar (not shown).

Although a single panel unit 12 of the insulation arrangement 10 has been shown and described, it should be understood that according to the present invention a series of these panel units are secured to the walls and ceiling of a boxcar in immediately adjacent relationship to establish a complete insulation. In this light, where the construction of the end walls or ceiling of a boxcar varies slightly from that of the wall 11 herein described as by the inclusion of wood stringers, structural timbers or steel carlings, the panel units 12 are modified somewhat and accordingly to include such inserts, without sacrificing features of the present invention.

While several embodiments described herein are at present considered to be preferred, it is understood that various modifications and improvements may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and improvements as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is desired to be claimed and secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a closed box car arrangement provided with attachment means on the interior surface of one car Wall and an insulation panel unit having a mounting surface at which the panel unit is mounted to the interior surface of the car wall at the attachment means: the improvement of an insulation panel unit comprising;

a base panel,

a plurality of strip members spaced from said base panel with the remote surface of each strip member lying in a common plane,

said strip members being arranged relative to said base panel to overlie the attachment means of the box car,

and cellular plastic insulating material in continuous extension between said base panel and said common plane and bonded to the contacted surfaces of said base panel and strip members,

the surface of each of said strip members and of said cellular plastic material in said common plane defiing' the mounting surface of the insulation panel unit,

whereby upon mounting of said insulation panel unit at said strip members to the attachment means of the box car said mounting surface is drawn against the interior surface of the car wall and the cellular plastic insulating material surface portion thereof conforms to the contour of the interior surface.

2. The closed box car arrangement set forth in claim 1 wherein the attachment means includes a plurality of stud bolts and corresponding nuts extending normal from the interior surface of the car Wall, and wherein the strip members are apertured to receive and overlie said stud bolts and to be drawn to the car wall by threading of the nuts onto the stud bolts.

3. In a closed box car arrangement provided with attachment means on the interior surface of one car wall and an insulation panel unit having a mounting surface at which the panel unit is mounted to the interior surface of the car wall at the attachment means: the improvement of an insulation panel unit comprising;

a base panel formed of a plurality of panel sections disposed in abutting relationship at linearly extending free edges,

a plurality of strip members extending transversely of said free edges and spaced from said base panel with the remote surface of each strip member lying in a common plane,

spacer means connecting said strip members to said panel sections to overlie the attachment means of the box car,

and cellular plastic insulating material in continuous extension between said base panel and said common plane and bonded to the contacted surfaces of said base panel and strip members,

the surface of each of said strip members and of said cellular plastic material in said common plane defining the mounting surface of the insulation panel unit,

whereby upon mounting of said insulation panel unit at said strip members to the attachment means of the box car said mounting surface is drawn against the interior surface of the car wall and the cellular plastic insulating material surface portion thereof conforms to the contour of the interior surface.

4. In a closed box car arrangement provided with a plurality of stud bolt and nut attachment means extending normal from the interior surface of the car wall, and an insulation panel unit having a mounting surface at which the panel unit is mounted to the interior surface of the car wall by the stud bolt and nut attachment means: the improvement of an insulation panel unit comprising;

a base panel defining an outer face and formed of a plurality of panel sections disposed in abutting relationship at linearly extending free edges,

a plurality of strip members extending transversely of said free edges and spaced from said base panel with the remote surface of each strip member lying in a common plane,

spacer means connecting said strip members to said panel sections to overlie the attachment means of the box car,

and cellular plastic insulating material in continuous extension between said base panel and said common plane and bonded to the contacted surfaces of said base panel and strip members,

the surface of each of said strip members and of said cellular plastic material in said common plane defining the mounting surface of the insulation panel unit,

said strip members being apertured to receive corresponding stud bolts and said base panel and cellular 20 plastic insulating material including a plurality of corresponding bores and plugs in alignment with said apertures to provide access to the stud bolts at the apertures and to receive the corresponding nuts, whereby upon mounting of said insulation panel unit to the interior surface of the car wall to said studs are in extension through the apertures in the strip members, and the panel unit is secured to the car wall by tightening of the nuts on the studs against the strip members through the access provided at the corresponding bores and plugs, so that the mounting surface is drawn against the interior surface of the car wall and the cellular plastic insulating material surface portion thereof conforms to the contour of the interior surface of the car wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,247,886 7/ 1941 McLaughlin 52578 2,376,653 5/ 1945 Boyer 52615 XR 2,642,818 6/1953 Talmey 52--481 2,730,772 1/1956 Jones L. 52272 2,858,580 11/1958 Thompson et a1 29631 2,866,730 12/1958 Pot chen et al. 52309 XR 2,896,271 7/1959 Kloote et a1. 5263 3,014,611 12/1961 Marshall 52262 3,026,577 3/1962 Dosker 52506 FOREIGN PATENTS 558,242 6/ 1958 Canada.

810,077 8/1951 Germany.

699,667 11/ 1953 Great Britain.

772,181 4/ 1957 Great Britain.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

Examiners. 

1. IN A CLOSED BOX CAR ARRANGEMENT PROVIDED WITH ATTACHMENT MEANS ON THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF ONE CAR WALL AND AN INSULATION PANEL UNIT HAVING A MOUNTING SURFACE AT WHICH THE PANEL UNIT IS MOUNTED TO THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE CAR WALL AT THE ATTACHMENT MEANS: THE IMPROVEMENT OF AN INSULATION, PANEL UNIT COMPRISING; A BASE PANEL, A PLURALITY OF STRIP MEMBERS SPACED FROM SAID BASE PANEL WITH THE REMOTE SURFACE OF EACH STRIP MEMBER LYING IN A COMMON PLANE, SAID STRIP MEMBERS BEING ARRANGED RELATIVE TO SAID BASE PANEL TO OVERLIE THE ATTACHMENT MEANS TO THE BOX CAR, AND CELLULAR PLASTIC INSULATING MATERIAL IN CONTINUOUS EXTENSION BETWEEN SAID BASE PANEL AND SAID COMMON PLANE AND BONDED TO THE CONTACTED SURFACES OF SAID BASE PANEL AND STRIP MEMBERS, THE SURFACE OF EACH OF SAID STRIP MEMBERS AND OF SAID CELLULAR PLASTIC MATERIAL IN SAID COMMON PLANE DEFINING THE MOUNTING SURFACE OF THE INSULATION PANEL UNIT, WHEREBY UPON MOUNTING OF SAID INSULATION PANEL UNIT AT SAID STRIP MEMBERS TO THE ATTACHMENT MEANS OF THE BOX CAR SAID MOUNTING SURFACE IS DRAWN AGAINST THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE CAR WALL AND THE CELLULAR PLASTIC INSULATING MATERIAL SURFACE PORTION THEREOF CONFORMS TO THE CONTOUR OF THE INTERIOR SURFACE. 